Ten Great Songs Written by Grant Hart

Like a lot of people that didn’t know him personally, I was shocked when Grant Hart died on the 13th. The goofy, boyish, frequently barefoot drummer/co-singer of the incomparable Husker Du wrote such carefree and lilting melodies and sang with such exuberance that it seemed impossible for him to age, let alone get sick.

I could write a heartfelt piece about my relationship with Husker Du, which started when I was in high school, and then really clicked into place when I was in college. Ultimately, that would be an article about me, and that’s not an article about Grant Hart.

Though Hart’s increasingly numerous contributions to Husker Du’s oeuvre was one of about a thousand reasons that the band ultimately split up, Hart developed into a graceful and mature songwriter, providing a perfect counterpoint to Bob Mould’s acerbic and personal love songs. Even if Mould didn’t necessarily think so.

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The band was only active from about 1979-1988, but in that time, they changed the dynamic of punk rock forever. Hart’s jackhammer drum fills and incredible speed (all while singing half the songs) were part of Husker Du’s signature sound, but his (and Mould’s) songwriting were really what made the band gel. Marrying hardcore punk to Beatles-esque choruses, Husker Du showed that there could be melody lurking underneath all that fury and noise.

Bob Mould puts on a great live show, and even played a few songs from his old band when I saw him a few years ago, but the interplay between Mould’s low growl and Hart’s higher-pitched vocals is one of the things that made Husker Du such an effective group. Now that dynamic is lost forever. Hart wrote a lot of songs that are worthy of inclusion on a “best of” list, so I encourage you to use the following entries as a jumping-off point.

I’m sure I’m not alone in taking this one extremely hard. This one really burns. Let’s celebrate the life of Grant Hart and his major contributions to the word of alternative music. R.I.P.

Jordan Posner is a writer, musician, attorney, rock music fan, wine enthusiast, American history buff and dog lover. He is originally from Centerville, Ohio and went to school at The Ohio State University and Loyola University Chicago. Here is a list of more things about him:

1. Jordan currently lives in Chicago with his girlfriend and dog, both adorable.
2. His favorite bands of all time include Husker Du, R.E.M, Ween, Pink Floyd and Guided by Voices
3. His favorite U.S. President is either Theodore Roosevelt or Lyndon Johnson (domestic policy only).
4. His favorite song very well might be “Nightswimming” by R.E.M.
5. He currently sells wine, unless you can offer him a better job.

Check him out on Twitter, because he usually says a lot of funny things : @FlackSabbath

You can email him your thoughts on 1980’s American hardcore music. Or just skip right to the death threats: jordan@rocknuts.net.